Wednesday, 23 October 2013

One of Billy Connolly’s one-liners starts “In Scotland
there’s no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothing”. Whilst the
punch line is not suitable for a PSPS blog this phrase was certainly
appropriate for those of us who left Pacific Quay in lashing rain on Saturday
morning for a cruise to Loch Long that could best be described as atmospheric.

Sunday’s weather continued to be wet but with occasional
bright spells for the cruise to Tighnabruaich. Whether it was the promise of
some sunshine or it being the last day of the season, the ship was well loaded
and seemed packed when rain cleared the open decks.

The rain didn’t seem to dampen spirits and with many well-kent
faces on board there was much to chat about. For the steamer enthusiast there
was also good opportunities for retail therapy. The shop did a brisk trade and
had a full complement of shop keepers. In addition your PSPS branch organised a
sale of books and prints. The branch would like to thank the Friends of Wemyss
Bay Station for their donation of prints and paintings for this sale.

The rain kept off for the final run up the Clyde in the dark
with engines running at 50 rpm. With the final ring of the engine telegraph
signalled the end of the season, the ship arrived back at Pacific Quay at
20:00. For us passengers it was time to go home and look forward to May 2014. However,
as always, for the ship’s crew there was still work to do. So to conclude our
last sailing report of the season it is right to acknowledge the crew who do
much to make the great experience that is Waverley.

David Shirres

Saturday's wet departure Photo: David Shirres

Some sunshine on Sunday as Waverley arrives at Largs Photo: David Shirres

Thursday, 17 October 2013

During August this year, the Friends of Wemyss Bay Station ran an exhibition of steamer prints and paintings, most of which were supplied by Ian McCrorie. The prints and paintings were then sold in aid of funds for Waverley. The remaining pictures have now been given to Waverley Steam Navigation Company to allow further funds to be raised. It is intended that over the the final weekend of the sailing season the remaining prints and paintings will be on sale on Waverley.

In addition to the pictures some of Dr Joe McKendrick's collection of steamer books will also be on sale to raise funds for Waverley. It is planned that both the books and pictures will be on sale over a period of time (about an hour) during both Saturday and Sunday (subject to availability) in the lower bar area of the ship. Passengers will be invited to view the items and make a purchase (donation) in aid of Waverley.

The following photographs give some idea of the prints and paintings which will be on sale. Each picture is framed with glass.

P.S. Waverley off Arran (Original watercolour by J. Farquharson)

Waverley and QE2 1990

P.S. Jeanie Deans, 1884 (Kerprints)

T.S. Glen Sannox at Brodick (I. Orchardson print, limited edition)

T.S. King George V at Oban North Pier (R. Forsyth print, limited edition)

Sunday, 13 October 2013

The Medway Queen preservation Society have issued the following press release:-

Following the re-dedication of the Medway Queen at the
Albion Dockyard in July the workforce there has been busy with completion of
the construction and finishing touches to our ship. Apprentices and instructors
from the Medway Queen Preservation Society were also in Bristol for a while to complement the Albion workforce. The successful rebuild of Medway
Queen’s hull and establishment of the Gillingham Pier base has only been possible
because of a substantial grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and
considerable financial support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) via the
INTERREG IVA 2 Seas Programme.

The tug “Christine”, operated by A. J. & A. Pratt
of Rainham, has been contracted to tow “Medway Queen” back to Gillingham
and is now on her way to Bristol.
When she arrives and all necessary surveys are complete and certificates issued
Medway Queen will be towed out of the dry dock, manoeuvred through the locks
and onto the river Avon. This and subsequent
phases of the operation will be entirely dependent on both weather and tides.
These factors are beyond anyone’s control although the
tides at least are predictable. You can follow the Christine’s progress back to Gillingham
on www.marinetraffic.com/ais.
They are expected to take an inshore route along the SouthCoast
and for those who don’t already know, search
for the “Christine”(UK
registered tug), not for “Medway
Queen”.

The date and time of arrival in Gillingham
are dependent on operational requirements and will only be predictable by
following the tug’s progress; it is expected to take an
inshore route along the SouthCoast.

Our estimate is around 5 days after leaving Bristol given good
weather. Medway Queen’s arrival at Gillingham
Pier will be a major event for the area and we are planning this in three
stages: (1) Arrival on the Medway in charge of the tug “Christine” and mooring
up in the river to await a suitable tide. (2) Berthing at Gillingham Pier and,
finally, (3) A celebration event for members and guests shortly after “Medway
Queen” has been settled into her home.

When “Medway Queen” arrives the Visitor Centre will be
open, but we anticipate that it will be necessary to exclude the public from
the pier itself while the ship is mooring, on safety grounds. The society hopes that an
impromptu “escort” of suitable vessels will follow the ship on the final stages
of her journey without, of course, impeding the smooth running of the
operation.

Please note that visitors will not be able to board
Medway Queen at this stage.

Ship restoration is hugely
expensive and Medway Queen is no exception. The support received from the HLF
and the ERDF and generous grants from many
other organisations and individuals have provided us with the means to reach
the stage that we have, which is a fantastic achievement in itself, but we
still have a long way to go to complete the job and get the ship working again.
The fitting out phase of
Medway Queen’s restoration will take place at Gillingham
Pier but funds are now in extremely short supply and progress will be very slow
unless we are successful in raising significant amounts of money. Our current
priorities are providing safe access to the vessel for workers and visitors,
restoring the aft saloon to enable it to be used for functions to generate
revenue towards the restoration and restoring the engine room and machinery to
working order as an attraction to encourage visitors

A “Completion Fund” has been set up to
encourage donations large and small towards the cost of finishing the job. The
speed with which Medway Queen can be returned to working order is entirely
dependent on fund raising. We are applying to numerous grant giving bodies for
aid but all will require us to provide partnership funding. Please dig deep;
look on our website www.medwayqueen.vo.uk
for details or call at the Visitor Centre on Gillingham Pier.

Financial support is essential, as are new
members. Offers of help in kind and volunteers to take on the many
organisational roles needed when the ship returns and visitors arrive are also welcome.
The society is very conscious that the “game” is about to change. In 2014 and
beyond it has to strengthen the volunteer input to the project needing not only
craftsmen but also organisers and administrators.

The Society

The Paddle Steamer Preservation Society (PSPS) is Britain's longest established, largest and most successful steamship preservation group.A registered charity founded in 1959, we have over 3000 members and through our associated charitable companies we operate the only two working paddle steamers in Great Britain.Without the PSPS there would no longer be the opportunity to sail on a Paddle Steamer in Great Britain.

Our aimsi) to preserve paddle steamers in sailing conditionii) to educate the public in the historic significance of paddle steamers in the Nation's maritime and industrial heritageiii) to acquire, preserve and exhibit a collection of equipment and material associated with paddle steamers.

Our Ships

Flagship of our fleet is Waverley the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world. Built in 1947 Waverley was gifted to the Society for just £1. As well as operating on her native Clyde each summer she visits other coastal areas around the UK during the spring and autumn each year.

Kingswear Castle is Britain's only operational coal-fired paddle steamer. Built in 1924 to sail on the River Dart she was purchased by the Society in 1967. From 1985 until 2012 she sailed the Thames and Medway. In 2013 Kingswear Castle returned to the Dart where she now operates public sailings during the summer season.

The society is composed of five branches: Scottish, London & Home Counties, Bristol Channel, Wessex & Dart and North England - all of which help raise money to keep our paddle steamers sailing.

The Scottish Branch

The Scottish Branch was formed in 1969 by Douglas McGowan, now our Honorary Branch President. In November 1973 Douglas was invited to attend a meeting with CalMac which resulted in Paddle Steamer Waverley being gifted to the PSPS for £1! It was then on 8th August 1974 that the PSPS took ownership of the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world and her second career in preservation had begun. Since 1974 the Scottish Branch has been directly linked to supporting Waverley.

The Scottish Branch is proud of its achievements. We are an active and forward thinking branch with a thriving membership of over 800 - we are proud to be the branch which secured an operational future for Waverley. Our members are regularly involved with voluntary work which helps ensure Waverley continues to sail. During the summer sailing season we help raise funds through the Society's Grand Draw and our annual fundraising cruise on Waverley. The Branch meets in Glasgow each month during the non-sailing season (October - April) and we extend an invitation to join the Society and indeed join the Scottish Branch.